March Madness Recap: UW WBB Huskies Dominate South Dakota State, 72-54

The Washington Huskies (22-11) arrived in Fort Worth, Texas with a clear goal of ending the program’s NCAA Tournament victory drought. The Dawgs did exactly that with a first round 72-54 win over South Dakota State (27-7), securing UW’s first NCAA victory since 2017.

The UW- SDSU contest showcased Washington’s tournament-ready abilities — disruptive defense that creates chaos (12 steals), team rebounding (40 boards), and big shot-making (nine made threes). The Dawgs didn’t simply survive the Jackrabbits; they separated and dominated.

1st Quarter – SDSU Lands First Punch, UW Answers Late
South Dakota State opened with surprising pace, literally sprinting to a 13–3 lead in the first five minutes behind Brooklyn Meyer’s early scoring. Washington started cold, and the Jackrabbits looked comfortable dictating tempo.

However, Washington eventually flipped the quarter with pressure and poise. The Huskies forced turnovers, pushed in transition, and ended the first period tied at 15–15 when Avery Howell drilled a three in the final minute. Q1 score: tied 15–15.

2nd Quarter – The Dawgs’ Decisive Run
Washington won the second quarter with a decisive 23–9 surge, turning a tied game into a 38–24 halftime lead.

Howell broke the tie early in the period with another three-pointer, and then Washington showcased enough tough interior offense to keep SDSU’s defense from selling out on their perimeter offense. Q2 score: Washington 38, South Dakota State 24

3rd Quarter – SDSU’s Meyer Attacks, Washington Responds
South Dakota State didn’t fold. Meyer attacked early in the third. For a moment, the Jackrabbits threatened to narrow the margin within striking distance of the Huskies.

However, Washington answered every SDSU punch with smart execution. Howell kept spacing the floor with timely deep threes, and the Huskies kept manufacturing extra possessions with offensive rebounds turning missed shots into second chances.
UW outscored SDSU 23-19 in the third period.
Q3 score: Washington 61, South Dakota State 43

4th Quarter – Huskies’ Clean and Controlled Closeout
With an 18-point cushion entering the fourth, Washington shifted into game-management mode without losing their edge. The scoring in the fourth period ended even (11–11), yet the Huskies never let the outcome drift into doubt because they protected the ball and kept rebounding to end possessions.

When the Jackrabbits tried to speed the game up, Washington slowed it down, got to its spots, and finished the job. Final: Washington 72 SDSU 54

By-the-Numbers: Why Washington Advanced
The headline belonged to Avery Howell: 30 points, nine rebounds, and seven three-pointers (53.8% from deep range) — her shot-making stretched SDSU’s defense and opened lanes for everyone else.

Meanwhile, Sayvia Sellers epitomized poised point guard play: she scored four points but ran the show with 10 assists, five rebounds, and three steals.

Also, 6’5″ graduate center Yulia Grabovskaia came off the bench with a major defensive contribution by making SDSU frontcourt star Brooklyn Meyer struggle at times to score in the post against her. (Meyer did finish with 29 points but Grabovskaia kept her in check early when the game was hanging in the balance.)

Overall, Washington made nine three-pointers, while also scoring 36 points in the paint — demonstrating UW’s balanced scoring prowess that is difficult to defend. Freshman forward Brynn McGaughy added 14 points in 18 minutes, providing frontcourt punch that complemented Washington’s guard play.

Teamwide, Washington built its advantage through purposeful team play and disruption: a 40–25 rebounding edge, along with 21 assists and 12 steals. The Dawgs repeatedly jumped passing lanes for steals and converted defensive stops into efficient offense.

South Dakota State shot a solid 44% and got 14 points from three-point specialist Emilee Fox with four threes. However, the turnover gap (SDSU’s 18 versus only 10 for UW) was evidence that South Dakota State’s offensive rhythm frayed under ball pressure; and that along with UW’s 14-3 offensive rebounding advantage tilted the possession battle toward the Huskies.

Next Up: Washington Huskies vs. TCU Horned Frogs, Sunday, March 22nd -Time TBD

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